Dripping with sweat in the mid-morning sun, Joe and Yui showed me the impressive gateway into the Imperial City. They explained that it was built in the 17th century by the feudal Nguyen Dynasty emperors, and served as the national capital from 1802 to 1945. Deep within these walls was the Forbidden Purple City where only the emperor, his concubines, and their servants could access; the punishment for trespassing was death.

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In this fifth volume, I will be discovering opulent royal palaces and riverside Buddhist pagodas while touring the ancient capital city of Hue. When I arrived, I had the good fortune to meet two local college students, Joe and Yui, who were keen to guide me around the Forbidden Purple City. Adding a personal perspective on modern Vietnamese culture, it reveals the surprising political opinions of my new friends, as well as my own reflections on their tyrannical history.

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Still not convinced, an Amazon reviewer wrote:
"Inspiring! As with all of Scott David Plumlee's books, #5 is filled with stunning photos, rich history, and a personal account of the most amazing adventure. David has a true gift for sweeping you along on his travels - you can almost hear him talking to you along the way." - Carys Jones

Visit the author's website to discover magical places, adventure philosophy and a collection of international travel books at www.travelmagic.world.

“Hey, did you hear about the dyslexic rock star that accidentally sold his soul to Santa?” Seth laughed and replied “Do you know why Santa is so happy?” “Um, because he’s got a dozen flying reindeer” I answered. “No, ‘cause he knows where all the naughty girls live.” We proceeded to sing the song and it just got funnier and funnier: “He’s making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty and nice - Santa Claus is coming to town.”

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In this fourth volume, I will be going to Phong Nha National Park to discover its legendary caves with a hilarious new American friend, who loves to share jokes. Seth and I will tour the countryside on his motorcycle, go zip-lining into the muddy depths of the Dark Cave, and be awe-struck by the stunning interior of Paradise Cavern. Next, we sail a dragon boat down the Son River into Phong Nha Cave and then visit an infamous pub that allows customers to decapitate their chicken of choice for dinner.

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Still not convinced, an Amazon reviewer wrote:
"The photography was amazing as was the narrative! Makes me want to travel there even more now. It's a fun account of one of the author's many adventures around the globe. Thank you David for bringing me closer to Vietnam and its incredible beauty." - Noel Allen

Visit the author's website to discover magical places, adventure philosophy and a collection of international travel books at www.travelmagic.world.

Intoxicated by her French accent and eager for the adventure, we sailed out through the majestic Halong Bay. Our brightly-painted boat passed hundreds of vertical limestone karst islands that were dotted with greenery, wherever plants could cling to life. Such an awe-inspiring sight that it made me feel like Peter Pan, flying with Tinker Bell to Neverland, where I could join the Lost Boys to fight pirates and refuse to grow up!

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I begin the third volume by taking an overnight bus down to Cat Ba Island for a fun night of billiards, beers, and karaoke with a new French friend. Next, we take a lazy day to discover some pristine beaches and have philosophical conversations about Don Ruiz's book: The Four Agreements. Finally, we will take a boat tour through the awe-inspiring Halong Bay, go kayaking through karst passages and climb up to an overlook on Monkey Island.

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Still not convinced, an Amazon reviewer wrote:
"A bit of helpful philosophy mixed in a fantastic narrative and photos of Halong Bay in Vietnam. Scott David Plumlee describes his experience in typical fashion, making me wish I could join him for a beer on the beach." - Joseph Bengston

Visit the author's website to discover magical places, adventure philosophy and a collection of international travel books at www.travelmagic.world.

I continued down the valley road until I reached a police checkpoint where I was flagged to the side of the road. The officer asked for my ID, and when I showed him my USA driver’s license he went ballistic; threatening me with arrest for not having an international DL. Nothing justifies police extortion, but if you’re a foreigner cycling in Vietnam, you should accept the fact that when you are stopped by the police—they will take your money.

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In this second volume, I will be taking an overnight bus up into the northern mountains of Sapa and visiting the local Hmong Hilltribes with their intricately designed fabrics. Next, I will attempt to summit 3,143m Mt. Fansipan; only to reluctantly retreat as the rain turned to numbing sleet. Finally, I will tour the countryside by motorcycle, smiling through a crooked police checkpoint, and remembering that it's much better to be happy than right.

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Still not convinced, a Smashwords reviewer wrote:
"What an engaging opportunity to join Scott David Plumlee on his journey through the Sapa Mountains in Vietnam. Helpful advice and humor are interwoven with beautiful snapshots of the trip; written in that genuine Plumlee voice." - Joseph Bengston

Visit the author's website to discover magical places, adventure philosophy and a collection of international travel books at www.travelmagic.world.

I wandered down a few crooked streets until I stumbled upon a cheap hostel. Eager to explore a new culture, I locked my duffel and went out to discover the capital city. Chaos - that’s what I found, as scooter horns filled my mind with a migraine-inducing symphony of beep, beep, beeping. Despite the ‘bat-shit-crazy’ traffic, I also found tranquility by the lakeshore for a beautiful sunset to balance my first day in Hanoi.

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In this first volume, I will be flying into the capital city of Hanoi to explore the historic Old Quarter, which seamlessly mingles the new and old. It has everything imaginable, from knock-off North Face gear and gourmet coffee shops to hundreds of temples and legendary talking turtles. We will navigate twisting streets through chaotic scooter traffic to discover exciting markets filled with bizarre goods, sample some of the local food delicacies and laugh with the locals.

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Still not convinced, an Amazon reviewer wrote:
"The author is a free spirit in search of tranquility and peace which is reflected in his photo books. The photos are crisp, clear, and reveal not only the tourist sites but also the local peoples in their native element." - Teri Halstead

Visit the author's website to discover magical places, adventure philosophy and a collection of international travel books at www.travelmagic.world.